Audio video device with externally bundled tv tuner

ABSTRACT

A CE device is vended with a TV tuner module which may be provided in an envelope in the same shipping container along with instructions to the consumer to connect the tuner module to the CE device if TV capabilities are desired and to return the module for a rebate if TV capabilities are not desired.

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/970,215, filed Dec. 16, 2010 and to U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/412,552, filed Nov. 11, 2010.

I. Field of the Invention

The present application relates generally to audio video (AV) devicesthat are sold with TV tuners and, e.g., demodulators external to thedevices but bundled therewith.

II. Background of the Invention

Consumers may prefer audio video (AV) devices that do not have TV tunersbecause the consumer may plan to use CE device solely to obtain videoover the Internet, and not to receive conventional TV programming. Anon-limiting example of a “TV tuner” is defined in 47 CFR 15.117,incorporated herein by reference. In any case, the consumer has noreason to pay for an added component (a TV tuner) that the consumer doesnot need., Manufacturers of CE devices, however, are motivated to sellsuch devices with TV tuners because TVs may enjoy tariff advantages overnon-TV CE devices, and because manufacturers may believe selling a fullTV-enabled device is necessary from a marketing standpoint to advertiseselling a “full”consumer line.

As understood herein, however, a TV-enabled device is encumbered with aNational Television System Committee (NTSC) and/or digital AdvancedTelevision System Committee (ATSC) tuner. Particularly with respect toATSC tuners, license fees typically must be paid by the manufacturer,which passes the cost along to the consumer including consumers who donot plan to use the TV tuner. Also, once a CE device is classified as aTV, it is further encumbered by many other regulatory compliancerequirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As understood herein, it would be desirable to provide a product thatallows a manufacturer to achieve a cost savings, while meeting, all theabove criteria.

Accordingly, a method includes providing a consumer electronics (CE)device having no. TV tuner with a TV tuner module external to the CEdevice and connectable thereto to send TV signals to a processor in theCE device. The method includes instructing a purchaser of the CE devicewith tuner module to connect the tuner module to the CE device if thepurchaser desires the CE device to be configured with TV tunercapabilities. Furthermore, the method includes instructing the purchaserto return the module if the purchaser does not desire the CE device tobe configured with TV tuner capabilities.

If desired, the module and device are provided, together in a commonshipping container. In example embodiments the module is in an envelopein the shipping container along with the instructions to the consumer toconnect the tuner module to the CE device if TV capabilities are desiredand to return the module for a rebate if TV capabilities are notdesired. The instructions can be provided on a substrate in thecontainer and/or on a computer readable storage medium in the CE devicefor presentation thereof on a display of the device. The purchaser maybe instructed that a rebate will be paid to the purchaser upon return ofthe tuner module.

In another aspect, a method includes providing a consumer electronics(CE) device having a TV module receptacle with a TV tuner moduleremovably engaged with the receptacle. The method also includesinstructing a purchaser of the CE device with tuner module to leave thetuner module installed in the receptacle of the CE device if thepurchaser desires the CE device to be configured with TV tunercapabilities. Additionally, the method includes instructing thepurchaser to remove the module from the receptacle and return the moduleto a predetermined address if the purchaser does not desire the CEdevice to be configured with TV tuner capabilities.

In another aspect, an assembly includes a shipping container, a CEdevice in the shipping container and a TV tuner module in the shippingcontainer. Instructions are contained on a substrate or on a computerreadable storage medium. The instructions are to a purchaser of theassembly to engage or keep engaged the TV tuner module with the CEdevice if the purchaser desires the CE device to be configured with TVtuner capabilities and to return the TV tuner module, but not the CEdevice, to a predetermined address if the purchaser does not desire theCE device to be configured with TV tuner capabilities.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure andoperation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a non-limiting example system in accordancewith present principles, showing the envelope in phantom and showingportions of the CE device schematically;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of logic related to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another non-limiting example system inaccordance with present principles, showing portions of the CE deviceschematically and showing the removable TV tuner module in an explodedrelationship with the CE device chassis; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of logic related to FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a shipping container 10 is shown whichcontains a consumer electronics (CE) device 12 and an envelope 14holding a TV tuner module 16, which contains a TV timer such as but notlimited to an NTSC and/or ATSC tuner. Absent the TV tuner module 16, theCE device 12 preferably has no TV tuner. The envelope 14 advantageouslycan be pre-addressed to be mailed back to an address of the manufactureraccording to principles set forth further below.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the chassis 18 of the CE device 12includes a video display 20 controlled by a processor 22 accessing oneor more disk-based and/or solid state storage media 24. The processor 22may also communicate with a network interface 26 such as a wireless orwired modem or wireless telephony transceiver to obtain video from theInternet for display on the display 20. Also, the processor 22 cancommunicate with an input port 28 such as a universal serial bus (USB)port into which a USB cable 30 of the TV tuner module 16 may be pluggedaccording to instructions to the consumer printed on a substrate 32 inthe envelope 14 or elsewhere as described further below. Theinstructions discussed below alternatively made be presented on thedisplay 20 at initial power on.

Referring: to FIG. 2, block 34, at the point of Sale of the CE device12, the device 12 is bundled with the tuner, module 16 in the container10. This bundling meets the requirements for the CE device 12 to beconsidered a TV receiver. The TV tuner module 16 may be disposedseparately from the chassis 18 of the CE device 12 as shown, in theenvelope 14 if desired.

After a consumer purchases the CE device the consumer decides whether hewishes to use the TV tuner function. The consumer at block 36accordingly is instructed, by means of the above-mentioned instructions,to engage the tuner module 16 with the CE device 12 if the consumerwishes the CE device 12 to possess TV functionality, i.e., to be able todisplay TV programming from an antenna, set top box, satellite dish, andthe like. The instructions in the embodiment shown instruct the consumerto plug the USB cable 30 of the. TV tuner module 16 into the USB port 28of the CE device 12.

The instructions also, at block 38, inform the consumer that theconsumer need not select to use the tuner module, and that, in someembodiments, if the consumer returns the module to the manufacturer arebate will be paid to the consumer. It will now be appreciated thatusing a pre-addressed envelope 14, preferably sealed, the consumer isfacilitated in returning the tuner module and if the envelope remainedsealed because the consumer never opened it, quality inspection of thereturned module advantageously is reduced.

In the event that the consumer returns the module to the manufacturer,at block 40 the consumer is duly paid a rebate in embodiments that userebates. At block 42 royalty payments from the manufacturer of the CEdevice to the manufacturer of the tuner module can be adjusted toreflect the fact that the CE device remains a non-TV device, e.g., anyATSC royalty paid by the manufacturer on account of the initial sale ofthe CE device 12 with tuner module 16 and administered by a licensingagency can be credited or refunded back to the manufacturer of the CEdevice 12.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate system in which a CE device 44 may be formedwith a tuner module receptacle 46 configured to hold a TV tuner module48 containing a TV tuner or tuners. The chassis of the device 44includes a video display 50 controlled by a processor 52 accessing oneor more disk-based and/or solid state storage media 54. The processor 52may also communicate with a network interface 56 such as a wireless orwired modem or wireless telephony transceiver to obtain video from theInternet for display on the display 50. When the TV tuner module 48 isengaged with the receptacle 46, electrical communication is establishedbetween the module 48 and processor 52.

In any case and referring now to FIG. 4, at block 58 the TV module 48may be vended with the CE device 44 installed in the receptacle 46.Instructions may be presented on a substrate such as the substrate shownin FIG. 1 or on the display 50 to instruct the consumer, at block 60, toremove the module 48 from the receptacle 46 if TV capability is notdesired for the CE device 44. The consumer may be further instructed atblock 62 to return the tuner module 48 to the manufacturer of the CEdevice 44, e.g., using a pre-addressed envelope such as the one shown inFIG. 1, and if desired the instructions may promise the consumer arebate.

Moving to block 64 the consumer is duly paid a rebate in embodimentsthat use rebates and royalty payments from the manufacturer of the CEdevice to the manufacturer of the tuner module can be adjusted toreflect the fact that the CE device remains a non-TV device, e.g., anyATSC royalty paid by the manufacturer on account of the initial sale ofthe CE device 12 with tuner module 16 can be credited or refunded backto the manufacturer of the CE device 12.

While the particular AUDIO VIDEO DEVICE WITH EXTERNALLY BUNDLED TV TUNERis herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that thesubject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limitedonly by the claims.

1. Method comprising: providing a consumer electronics (CE) devicehaving no TV tuner with a TV tuner module external to the CE device andconnectable thereto to send TV signals to a processor in the CE device;instructing a purchaser of the CE device with tuner module to connectthe tuner module to the CE device if the purchaser desires the CE deviceto be configured with TV tuner capabilities; and instructing thepurchaser to return the module if the purchaser does not desire the CEdevice to be configured with TV tuner capabilities.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, comprising providing the module and device in a common shippingcontainer.
 3. The method of claim 2, comprising providing the module inan envelope in the shipping container along with the instructions to theconsumer to connect the tuner module to the CE device if TV capabilitiesare desired and to return the module for a rebate if TV capabilities arenot desired.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the instructions areprovided on a substrate in the container.
 5. The method of claim 3,wherein the instructions are contained on a computer readable storagemedium in the CE device for presentation thereof on a display of thedevice.
 6. The method of claim 1, comprising instructing the purchaserthat a rebate will be paid to the purchaser upon return of the tunermodule.
 7. Method comprising: providing a consumer electronics (CE)device having a TV module receptacle with a TV tuner module removablyengaged with the receptacle; instructing a purchaser of the CE devicewith tuner module to leave the tuner module installed in the receptacleof the CE device if the purchaser desires the CE device to be configuredwith TV tuner capabilities; and instructing the purchaser to remove themodule from the receptacle and return the module to a predeterminedaddress if the purchaser does not desire the CE device to be configuredwith TV tuner capabilities.
 8. The method of claim 7, comprisingproviding the module and device in a common shipping container.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, comprising providing a return envelope in theshipping container along with the instructions to the consumer to leavethe tuner module in the CE device if TV capabilities are desired and toremove and return the module for a rebate if TV capabilities are notdesired.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the instructions areprovided on a substrate in the container.
 11. The method of claim 9,wherein the instructions are contained on a computer readable storagemedium in the CE device for presentation thereof on a display of thedevice.
 12. The method of claim 7, comprising instructing the purchaserthat a rebate will be paid to the purchaser upon return of the tunermodule.
 13. Assembly, comprising: shipping container; CE device in theshipping container; TV tuner module in the shipping container; andinstructions contained on a substrate or a computer readable storagemedium to a purchaser of the assembly to engage or keep engaged the TVtuner module with the CE device if the purchaser desires the CE deviceto be configured with TV tuner capabilities and to return the TV tunermodule, but not the CE device to a predetermined address if thepurchaser does not desire the CE device to be configured with TV tunercapabilities.
 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the TV tuner moduleis not installed in the CE device in the shipping container, the modulebeing disposed in an envelope in the shipping container along with theinstructions.
 15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the instructionsinform the purchaser that a rebate will be paid to the purchaser uponreturn of the tuner module.
 16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the TVtuner module includes a universal serial bus (USB) cable and the CEdevice includes a USB port connectable to the cable to operably engagethe TV tuner module with the CE device.
 17. The assembly of claim 13,wherein the TV tuner module is installed in the CE device in theshipping container.
 18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein theinstructions instruct the purchaser to remove the module from thereceptacle and return the module to a predetermined address if thepurchaser does not desire the CE device to be configured with TV tunercapabilities.
 19. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the instructions areprovided on a substrate in the container.
 20. The assembly of claim 13,wherein the instructions are contained on a computer readable storagemedium in the CE device for presentation thereof on a display of thedevice.